Multiple-antenna system for cell-specific and user-specific transmission

Abstract

A reception method and apparatus for use in a multi-cell orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless system. In a unicast receive mode during a first receive time period, a first group of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols is received by a mobile device from multiple of a plurality of antennas at a serving base station. In a single-frequency-network (SFN) receive mode during a second receive time period, a second group of OFDM symbols is received by the mobile device from one of a plurality of antennas at the serving base station. The transition between the first receive time period and the second receive time period occurs during a cyclic prefix or a cyclic postfix between OFDM symbols, and the plurality of antennas produce a first beam pattern during the unicast receive mode and a second beam pattern during the SFN receive mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A base station in a cell of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless system, the base station comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 select a first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a first time slot for transmission to mobile devices within the cell, wherein first weights are applied to the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers; and 
 select a second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a second time slot for transmission to a specific mobile device within the cell, wherein second weights are applied to the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers; and 
 
 a transmitter configured to:
 transmit broadcast data and broadcast pilots on the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the first time slot and using a first beam pattern through a first group of antennas; and 
 transmit unicast data and unicast pilots on the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the second time slot and using a second beam pattern through a second group of antennas, wherein the first beam pattern is different than the second beam pattern. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The base station of  claim 1  wherein the first beam pattern has a first azimuth pattern and first elevation pattern, and the second beam pattern has a second azimuth pattern and second elevation pattern. 
     
     
       3. The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast data are modulated with a different modulation and coding scheme than the unicast data. 
     
     
       4. The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern are different in elevation. 
     
     
       5. The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the first beam pattern is based on a first beam index and the second beam pattern is based on a second beam index, wherein the first beam index and the second beam index are selected from a set of beam indices. 
     
     
       6. The base station of  claim 1  wherein the controller and the transmitter are further configured to form at least a first sector and a second sector, wherein the first sector has a different elevation than the second sector. 
     
     
       7. The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are the same time slot. 
     
     
       8. The base station of  claim 1 , wherein the unicast data is a first type of data, and the broadcast data is a second type of data. 
     
     
       9. The base station of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate, wherein at least one of the first group of antennas or the second group of antennas are positioned in a plane on the substrate. 
     
     
       10. The base station of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit other unicast data and other unicast pilots using a third beam pattern through a third group of antennas, wherein the third beam pattern is orthogonal in azimuth to the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       11. The base station of  claim 10 , wherein the third beam pattern is spatially narrower than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       12. The base station of  claim 10 , wherein the third beam pattern has a longer range than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       13. The base station of  claim 9 , wherein the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are evenly spaced on the substrate. 
     
     
       14. The base station of  claim 13 , wherein each antenna element of the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are rectangular in shape and have a same size. 
     
     
       15. A method for use by a base station in a cell of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless system, the method comprising:
 selecting a first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a first time slot for transmission to mobile devices within the cell, wherein first weights are applied to the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers; 
 selecting a second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a second time slot for transmission to a specific mobile device within the cell, wherein second weights are applied to the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers; 
 transmitting broadcast data and broadcast pilots on the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the first time slot and using a first beam pattern through a first group of antennas; and 
 transmitting unicast data and unicast pilots on the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the second time slot and using a second beam pattern through a second group of antennas, wherein the first beam pattern is different than the second beam pattern. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first beam pattern has a first azimuth pattern and first elevation pattern, and the second beam pattern has a second azimuth pattern and second elevation pattern. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the broadcast data are modulated with a different modulation and coding scheme than the unicast data. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern are different in elevation. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first beam pattern is based on a first beam index and the second beam pattern is based on a second beam index, wherein the first beam index and the second beam index are selected from a set of beam indices. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15  further comprising forming at least a first sector and a second sector, wherein the first sector has a different elevation than the second sector. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are the same time slot. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the unicast data is a first type of data, and the broadcast data is a second type of data. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first group of antennas or the second group of antennas are positioned in a plane on a substrate. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising transmitting other unicast data and other unicast pilots using a third beam pattern through a third group of antennas, wherein the third beam pattern is orthogonal in azimuth to the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the third beam pattern is spatially narrower than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the third beam pattern has a longer range than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are evenly spaced on the substrate. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein each antenna element of the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are rectangular in shape and have a same size. 
     
     
       29. A mobile station that uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the mobile station comprising:
 a receiver configured to:
 receive broadcast data and broadcast pilots on a first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a first time slot and via a first beam pattern, wherein the first beam pattern is based on first weights applied to the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers; and 
 receive unicast data and unicast pilots on a second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a second time slot and via a second beam pattern, wherein the second beam pattern is based on second weights applied to the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers, and wherein the first beam pattern is different than the second beam pattern; and 
 
 a controller configured to:
 recover the broadcast data; and 
 recover the unicast data. 
 
 
     
     
       30. The mobile station of  claim 29  wherein the first beam pattern has a first azimuth pattern and first elevation pattern, and the second beam pattern has a second azimuth pattern and second elevation pattern. 
     
     
       31. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the broadcast data are modulated with a different modulation and coding scheme than the unicast data. 
     
     
       32. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern are different in elevation. 
     
     
       33. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the first beam pattern is based on a first beam index and the second beam pattern is based on a second beam index, wherein the first beam index and the second beam index are selected from a set of beam indices. 
     
     
       34. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive data in at least a first sector and receive data in a second sector, wherein the first sector has a different elevation than the second sector. 
     
     
       35. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are the same time slot. 
     
     
       36. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the unicast data is a first type of data, and the broadcast data is a second type of data. 
     
     
       37. The mobile station of  claim 29 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive other unicast data and other unicast pilots using a third beam pattern, wherein the third beam pattern is orthogonal in azimuth to the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       38. The mobile station of  claim 37 , wherein the third beam pattern is spatially narrower than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       39. The mobile station of  claim 37 , wherein the third beam pattern has a longer range than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       40. A method for use by a mobile station that uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the method comprising:
 receiving broadcast data and broadcast pilots on a first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a first time slot and via a first beam pattern, wherein the first beam pattern is based on first weights applied to the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers; 
 receiving unicast data and unicast pilots on a second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a second time slot and via a second beam pattern, wherein the second beam pattern is based on second weights applied to the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers, and wherein the first beam pattern is different than the second beam pattern; 
 recovering the broadcast data; and 
 recovering the unicast data. 
 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 40  wherein the first beam pattern has a first azimuth pattern and first elevation pattern, and the second beam pattern has a second azimuth pattern and second elevation pattern. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 40 , wherein the broadcast data are modulated with a different modulation and coding scheme than the unicast data. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern are different in elevation. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first beam pattern is based on a first beam index and the second beam pattern is based on a second beam index, wherein the first beam index and the second beam index are selected from a set of beam indices. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 40 , further comprising receiving data in at least a first sector and receiving data in a second sector, wherein the first sector has a different elevation than the second sector. 
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 40 , wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are the same time slot. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 40 , wherein the unicast data is a first type of data, and the broadcast data is a second type of data. 
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 40 , further comprising receiving other unicast data and other unicast pilots using a third beam pattern, wherein the third beam pattern is orthogonal in azimuth to the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 48 , wherein the third beam pattern is spatially narrower than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 48 , wherein the third beam pattern has a longer range than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       51. An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless system comprising:
 a base station in a cell of the OFDM wireless system, the base station including:
 a base station controller configured to:
 select a first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a first time slot for transmission to mobile devices within the cell, wherein first weights are applied to the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers; and 
 select a second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a second time slot for transmission to a first mobile device within the cell, wherein second weights are applied to the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers; and 
 
 a base station transmitter configured to:
 transmit broadcast data and broadcast pilots on the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the first time slot and using a first beam pattern through a first group of antennas; and 
 transmit unicast data and unicast pilots on the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the second time slot and using a second beam pattern through a second group of antennas, wherein the first beam pattern is different than the second beam pattern; and 
 
 
 the first mobile station, the first mobile device including:
 a first mobile station receiver configured to:
 receive the broadcast data and the broadcast pilots on the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the first time slot and via the first beam pattern; and 
 receive the unicast data and the unicast pilots on the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the second time slot and via the second beam pattern; and 
 
 a first mobile station controller configured to:
 recover the broadcast data; and 
 recover the unicast data. 
 
 
 
     
     
       52. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51  wherein the first beam pattern has a first azimuth pattern and first elevation pattern, and the second beam pattern has a second azimuth pattern and second elevation pattern. 
     
     
       53. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51 , wherein the broadcast data are modulated with a different modulation and coding scheme than the unicast data. 
     
     
       54. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51 , wherein the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern are different in elevation. 
     
     
       55. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51 , wherein the first beam pattern is based on a first beam index and the second beam pattern is based on a second beam index, wherein the first beam index and the second beam index are selected from a set of beam indices. 
     
     
       56. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51  wherein:
 the base station controller and the transmitter are further configured to form at least a first sector and a second sector, wherein the first sector has a different elevation than the second sector; and 
 the first mobile station receiver is further configured to receive data in a least one of the first sector or the second sector. 
 
     
     
       57. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51 , wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are the same time slot. 
     
     
       58. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51 , wherein the unicast data is a first type of data, and the broadcast data is a second type of data. 
     
     
       59. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 51 , wherein the base station further comprises a substrate, wherein at least one of the first group of antennas or the second group of antennas are positioned in a plane on the substrate. 
     
     
       60. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 59 , further comprising a second mobile station, wherein:
 the base station transmitter is further configured to transmit other unicast data and other unicast pilots using a third beam pattern through a third group of antennas, wherein the third beam pattern is orthogonal in azimuth to the second beam pattern; and 
 the second mobile station includes a second mobile station receiver, the second mobile station receiver being configured to receive the other unicast data and the other unicast pilots using the third beam pattern. 
 
     
     
       61. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 60 , wherein the third beam pattern is spatially narrower than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       62. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 60 , wherein the third beam pattern has a longer range than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       63. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 59 , wherein the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are evenly spaced on the substrate. 
     
     
       64. The OFDM wireless system of  claim 63 , wherein each antenna element of the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are rectangular in shape and have a same size. 
     
     
       65. A method for use by an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless system, the method comprising:
 selecting, by a base station, a first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a first time slot for transmission to mobile devices within the cell, wherein first weights are applied to the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers; 
 selecting, by the base station, a second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in a second time slot for transmission to a first mobile device within the cell, wherein second weights are applied to the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers; 
 transmitting, by the base station, broadcast data and broadcast pilots on the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the first time slot and using a first beam pattern through a first group of antennas; 
 transmitting, by the base station and to the first mobile device, unicast data and unicast pilots on the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the second time slot and using a second beam pattern through a second group of antennas, wherein the first beam pattern is different than the second beam pattern; 
 receiving, by the first mobile device, the broadcast data and the broadcast pilots on the first plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the first time slot and via the first beam pattern; 
 receiving, by the first mobile device, the unicast data and the unicast pilots on the second plurality of OFDM subcarriers in the second time slot and via the second beam pattern; 
 recovering, by the first mobile device, the broadcast data; and 
 recover, by the first mobile device, the unicast data. 
 
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 65  wherein the first beam pattern has a first azimuth pattern and first elevation pattern, and the second beam pattern has a second azimuth pattern and second elevation pattern. 
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 65 , wherein the broadcast data are modulated with a different modulation and coding scheme than the unicast data. 
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 65 , wherein the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern are different in elevation. 
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 65 , wherein the first beam pattern is based on a first beam index and the second beam pattern is based on a second beam index, wherein the first beam index and the second beam index are selected from a set of beam indices. 
     
     
       70. The method of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 forming at least a first sector and a second sector, wherein the first sector has a different elevation than the second sector; and 
 receiving, by the first mobile station, data in a least one of the first sector or the second sector. 
 
     
     
       71. The method of  claim 65 , wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are the same time slot. 
     
     
       72. The method of  claim 65 , wherein the unicast data is a first type of data, and the broadcast data is a second type of data. 
     
     
       73. The method of  claim 65 , wherein at least one of the first group of antennas or the second group of antennas are positioned in a plane on a substrate. 
     
     
       74. The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the base station and to a second mobile station, other unicast data and other unicast pilots using a third beam pattern through a third group of antennas, wherein the third beam pattern is orthogonal in azimuth to the second beam pattern; and 
 receiving, by the second mobile station, the other unicast data and the other unicast pilots using the third beam pattern. 
 
     
     
       75. The method of  claim 74 , wherein the third beam pattern is spatially narrower than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       76. The method of  claim 74 , wherein the third beam pattern has a longer range than the second beam pattern. 
     
     
       77. The method of  claim 73 , wherein the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are evenly spaced on the substrate. 
     
     
       78. The method of  claim 77 , wherein each antenna element of the first group of antennas and the second group of antennas are rectangular in shape and have a same size.